panic attack
noun
plural panic attacks
: a sudden feeling or episode of panic
specifically
: a brief episode of intense fear or dread that is of sudden onset and typically subsides within 30 minutes, usually occurs for no apparent reason but may sometimes be associated with an identifiable triggering stimulus (such as an existing phobia), and is accompanied by a sense of unreality and impending loss of control and by various debilitating physical symptoms (such as increased heart rate, chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath)
Those undergoing a panic attack often believe they are suffering a heart attack or some other illness. —
Lillian Lee Kim
Lillian Lee Kim Agoraphobia is a fear only of fear itself, that is, of any situation where help would be unavailable and escape difficult in case of a panic attack. —The Harvard Mental Health Letter
compare anxiety attack
The Harvard Mental Health Letter Examples of panic attack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That was before the summer of more than 100 panic attacks, before the months of medical leave, and before Leneker—a former C-suite executive, founder and CEO of the Center for Joyful Work, and trusted advisor to Fortune 100 companies—built the method that became her debut book.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Hellerer was an executive at Google and began feeling miserable in her corporate life, having panic attacks and vomiting in the bathroom.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 22 May 2026
Elsa is experiencing for the first time the panic attacks Raúl has been having for decades, and Elsa met Bonifacio through his side job as an exotic dancer, which is how Raúl met his own handsome, doting younger partner Santi (Quim Gutiérrez).
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Payton added that two more students had been affected by the incident, with one suffering minor burns and the other having a panic attack, per WHIO.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
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Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Hellerer was an executive at Google and began feeling miserable in her corporate life, having panic attacks and vomiting in the bathroom.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 22 May 2026
Elsa is experiencing for the first time the panic attacks Raúl has been having for decades, and Elsa met Bonifacio through his side job as an exotic dancer, which is how Raúl met his own handsome, doting younger partner Santi (Quim Gutiérrez).
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Payton added that two more students had been affected by the incident, with one suffering minor burns and the other having a panic attack, per WHIO.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for panic attack
Cite this Entry
“Panic attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panic%20attack. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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